contumacy
Americannoun
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contumacies
plural
noun
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obstinate and wilful rebelliousness or resistance to authority; insubordination; disobedience
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the wilful refusal of a person to appear before a court or to comply with a court order
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of contumacy
1150–1200; Middle English contumacie < Latin contumācia, equivalent to contumāc-, stem of contumāx unyielding, stubborn ( con- con- + -tum- of uncertain sense, though connected by classical authors with both contemnere to regard with contempt and tumēre to swell) + -āx adj. suffix) + -ia -ia
Vocabulary lists containing contumacy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Shelley and Sir William Sirs: Shelley was dismissed for contumacy.
From Time Magazine Archive
"This is the most outrageous case of contumacy I have ever seen," bellowed Lawyer Rogge, obtaining a recess until March 20.
From Time Magazine Archive
She was "busted" out of Bryn Mawr for "deplorable contumacy of conduct."
From Time Magazine Archive
Absence was contumacy and only increased his guilt, by adding a fresh and unpardonable offence, besides being technically tantamount to confession.
From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume I by Henry Charles Lea
It was chiefly under his influence that it was agreed by this ecclesiastical body at subsequent meetings to summon to the bar their “Burgher” brethren, and finally to depose and excommunicate them for contumacy.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 8 "Germany" to "Gibson, William" by Various
Their contentions, contumacies and pretensions were accordingly manifold.
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 03 by Thomas Carlyle
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